Seoul proposes inter-Korean military and Red Cross talks

The South Korean government concurrently proposed North Korea to hold inter-Korean military talks and Red Cross talks to seek reunions of separated families. The measure is a follow-up of the suggestions in the "Berlin Declaration" that President Moon Jae-in made in Germany on July 6.

The South Korean Red Cross on Monday officially suggested Red Cross talks with its North Korean counterpart to discuss reunion events for separated families timed with the Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving on October 4). “We are proposing inter-Korean Red Cross talks (with the North) to discuss solutions to pending humanitarian issues, including the convening of reunion events for separated families on the occasion of the Chuseok holiday, at the South’s ‘Peace House’ within (the truce village of) Panmunjeom on August 1,” Kim Seon-hyang, acting chief of the South Korean Red Cross, told a press conference at Red Cross headquarters in Seoul.

The South has urged the North to resume reunion events for the first time in one year and nine months after the 20th event of separated family reunions in October 2015. For the South, Red Cross Korea Secretary General Kim Gunn-Jong will lead a three-member delegation at the talks. “We urge Red Cross of North Korea to send us a reply through the inter-Korean liaison office of South and North Korean Red Cross at Panmunjeom. We anticipate a positive response,” Kim said.

“We propose North Korea to hold talks between South and North Korean military authorities to halt all hostile acts, which can escalate military tension on the Military Demarcation Line, at Tongilgak in the North’s side of Panmunjeom on July 21,” South Korean Vice Defense Minister Seo Joo-seok said on the day.

Asked if Seoul had prior consensus on the talks with Pyongyang, South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyun said that there was nothing notable. The North did not take any reaction to the South Korean government’s offer for working-level talks on the day.

The South Korean government concurrently proposed North Korea to hold inter-Korean military talks and Red Cross talks to seek reunions of separated families. The measure is a follow-up of the suggestions in the "Berlin Declaration" that President Moon Jae-in made in Germany on July 6.

The South Korean Red Cross on Monday officially suggested Red Cross talks with its North Korean counterpart to discuss reunion events for separated families timed with the Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving on October 4). “We are proposing inter-Korean Red Cross talks (with the North) to discuss solutions to pending humanitarian issues, including the convening of reunion events for separated families on the occasion of the Chuseok holiday, at the South’s ‘Peace House’ within (the truce village of) Panmunjeom on August 1,” Kim Seon-hyang, acting chief of the South Korean Red Cross, told a press conference at Red Cross headquarters in Seoul.

The South has urged the North to resume reunion events for the first time in one year and nine months after the 20th event of separated family reunions in October 2015. For the South, Red Cross Korea Secretary General Kim Gunn-Jong will lead a three-member delegation at the talks. “We urge Red Cross of North Korea to send us a reply through the inter-Korean liaison office of South and North Korean Red Cross at Panmunjeom. We anticipate a positive response,” Kim said.

“We propose North Korea to hold talks between South and North Korean military authorities to halt all hostile acts, which can escalate military tension on the Military Demarcation Line, at Tongilgak in the North’s side of Panmunjeom on July 21,” South Korean Vice Defense Minister Seo Joo-seok said on the day.

Asked if Seoul had prior consensus on the talks with Pyongyang, South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyun said that there was nothing notable. The North did not take any reaction to the South Korean government’s offer for working-level talks on the day.